Agartala, October 21, 2026: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday paid tribute to police personnel and security forces who laid down their lives in the line of duty, highlighting the importance of public trust, police modernisation and effective policing to meet emerging security challenges.
Addressing the Police Commemoration Day programme in Agartala in the presence of Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of Police G.S. Rao and other senior officers of Tripura Police, the Chief Minister remembered the sacrifices of security personnel who dedicated their lives to protecting the nation and its people.
“I pay my deepest respects to all those brave police personnel and members of the security forces who sacrificed their lives to ensure the defence of the nation and the safety of its people. Their courage, dedication to duty and self-sacrifice will remain forever etched in our memories,” Dr Saha said.
He recalled that Police Commemoration Day is observed across the country on October 21 every year to honour the ten police personnel who were martyred in a clash with Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on October 21, 1959, under the leadership of Sub-Inspector Karam Singh. The day was designated for observance in 1960, while the national-level commemoration has been held at the Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, since 2012.
Highlighting the contribution of police forces in maintaining peace and order, the Chief Minister said the role of police extends beyond crime prevention and law enforcement to protecting human life and property and standing beside ordinary citizens during times of distress.
“The true strength of a police officer lies in their integrity, courage, commitment to duty and sense of responsibility toward the public,” he said, stressing that police personnel must remain sensitive to people’s concerns, maintain cordial relations with the public and treat every citizen fairly and justly.
According to the Chief Minister, 154 personnel from various police and security forces across the country were martyred while performing their duties between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026. Although no Tripura Police personnel lost their lives in the line of duty during this period, approximately 222 personnel of different ranks from various units of the state police have made the supreme sacrifice to date.
Paying homage to the fallen personnel, Dr Saha said their sacrifice inspired the nation and deserved lasting recognition. He also expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, acknowledging their contribution and suffering.
The Chief Minister further underscored the need to equip the police force to tackle the changing nature of crime, particularly cybercrime, drug trafficking and offences against women and children.
“In the present day, the nature and tactics of crime are evolving rapidly. It is essential to make our police force more skilled and modernised to effectively address these challenges,” he said.
Dr Saha said the Tripura government was placing special emphasis on police modernisation, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the state’s law-and-order framework. He added that the government’s objective was to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for every citizen and provide prompt police assistance whenever required.
Expressing confidence in the Tripura Police, the Chief Minister urged every personnel to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, dedication, courage and humanity.
Concluding his address, Dr Saha paid his respects to all martyred police and security personnel and extended condolences to their families, saying the ideals of the fallen heroes should continue to inspire the country to serve the people and uphold national sovereignty and integrity.